Deodorizer with electrical heating element



c'. c. DIEHL June 21, 1960 DEODORIZER WITH ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENTFiled Nov. 28, 1958 FIG../

A T TO/PNFYS United States PatentO 2,942,090 DEODORIZER WITH ELECTRICALHEATING ELEMENT Charles C. Diehl, 904 Ruth St., Belmont, Calif. FiledNov. 28, 1958, Ser. No. 776,916

Claims. (Cl. 219-19 The present invention relates to a deodorizer, andpertains more particularly to a mechanism for the controlled, convectioncirculation of heated air past a selected number of deodorant vapordisseminating tablets. Various mechanisms are available fordisseminating aromas and vapors, and such mechanisms are used widely inpublic washrooms, kitchens and bathrooms of private residences, andother places where the control of objectionable odors is desired.

Many types of vaporizing or desiccating chemicals are employed for thepurpose of disguising, removing or creating odors, as well as for insectand other control. For the purpose of the present invention, the termdeodorant and its derivatives will be used as a general term to includeall such chemicals.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a simple,inexpensive deodorizer employing a selected number of deodorantdisseminating tablets, and having therein a selected number of deodorant.disseminating tablets, the deodorizer being provided with electricallyenergized heating means to provide a convection flow of 'air through thehousing and past such tablets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a deodorizer capable ofbeing supported in either of two relatively inverted positions by a pairof wall-plug type prongs, inserted in either of two relatively reversedposi- "tions, in a wall plug receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved,electrically heated, deodorant disseminating mechanism.

These, and other objects and advantages of the invention, will beapparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a mechanism embodying the presentinvention, the contact plug element being shown in one position in solidlines, and in 90 rotated position in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a rear, elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1-3with the back plate removed.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

1 Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the vaporizer shown in Figs. Fig. 7 is aplan view of the back plate for the housing. Fig. 8 is a perspectiveview of a deodorant disseminating tablet adapted to be used with themechanism shown in Figs. 1-5.

Briefly, a heated deodorant disseminator A embodying A the presentinvention comprises a housing 10, having a plurality of deodorantdisseminating tablets B supported therein. A plurality of aircirculating openings 12 and 13 are provided in the respective upper andlower ends of the housing 10.

A small electric light bulb 14, for heating the tablets B, and at thesame time causing a convection flow of air upwardly through the housing10, is mounted in a combined switch, light socket, and wall plugassembly C mounted in inwardly spaced relation from the housing sidewalls 21. The deodorizer A is shown in solid lines in what may beconsidered its upright position, wherein the upwardly flowing air is notheated before passing over the tablets B. However, if more rapidvaporization is desired, the entire deodorizer A may be inverted asindicated in broken lines A in Fig. 4, in which inverted position theair will be heated before passing over the tablets B, and therefore willincrease the rate of vaporization from the tablets.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the housing 10, as illustrated,maybe molded of suitable plastic material, many of which materials, andthe manner of molding them, are well known. The support means 11 for theporous tablets B comprises an offset 15 in each side wall of the housing10. A shelf 16, with a retaining flange 17 along its free edge, ismolded integrally with each housing side wall 21, and is spaced from itscorresponding offset 15 a sufficient distance to receive a tablet Bbetween the ofiset and the shelf, as best shown in Fig. 4.

The tablets B are retained in place within the housing 10 by a backplate 20, which has a rounded notch 20a in its lower edge to fit over arounded upper portion of the wall plug unit C. The back plate 20 is heldin place by frictional sliding contact between a pair of retainingflanges 23, molded integrally with the housing side walls 21. Eachflange 23 is provided with a bead 23a along the inner side of its rearedge to overlie and retain the back plate 20.

While the illustrated vaporizer A is adapted to receive only twotablets, it is obvious that the number of tablets provided for is amatter of routine design. Also if a lesser rate of evaporation isdesired than that provided by the two tablets shown, one tablet only maybe used.

The electric light bulb 14 is screwed into a conventional type ofelectric light socket 24, the forward half portion 25 of which is moldedintegrally with the housing front wall 27, and the other half portion 28of which is formed integrally with a well known type of wall plug unit Chaving a conventional switch mechanism (not shown) incorporated thereinand operated by a usual switch button 29.

The wall plug unit C preferably is of the type wherein the prongs 30 aremounted on a prong support portion 31 which may be rotated through anangle of relative to the rear socket portion 28. Thus, in the event thata conventional electric wall outlet or receptacle (not shown) into whichthe prongs 30 are to be inserted, should have its prong-receiving holesarranged in horizontal spaced relation, the housing 10 may be swung toupright position with the prongs as indicated in solid lines 30 of Figs.1, 3, 4 and 6. However, if the holes of such receptacle are arranged invertically spaced relation, the portion 31 may be swung through an angleof 90 relative to the housing to position the prongs as shown in brokenlines 30a in said figures.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the socket portions 25 and 28 are spacedfrom the housing side walls 21 to provide spaces 33 for air flow betweenthe socket C and the housing'10. Thus, regardless of whether the housing10 is mounted in what is considered herein its upright solid lineposition of Figs. 1-4, or in its inverted broken line position of Fig.4, air entering the housing through the then lowermost slotted openings12 or 13, as the case may be, when heated by the light bulb 14, flowsupwardly through the housing and out the other openings therein.

' The deodorant disseminating tablets B may be of suitable material,such'as, for example, a desiccant or a porous ceramic material of a wellknown type adapted to be saturated with a suitable deodorant liquid. Thesize, shape, structure and composition of the tablets are, however, notmaterial to the invention, provided said tablets have the necessarydeodorant disseminating characteristics.

The operation of the'device is as follows: With the deodorizer A removedfrom a wall, the back plate 20 may be slidably withdrawn from betweenthe flanges [23 to expose the interior of the housing as shown in Fig.4. A desired numberfof tablets B,,either filled or saturated withdeodorantmaterial, or otherwise prepared to disseminate desired vaporsor aromas, are then inserted, between the offset housing portions 15 andthe corresponding flanged shelves 16 as shown in Figs. 3-5. Obviously,the greater the number of tablets employed, and the higher thetemperature of the tablets, the greater will be the emanation ofdeodorizing vapors from the device when the latter is placed inoperation.

With a desired number of tablets B inserted in the housing 10, and thelight bulb 14 inserted in the socket 24, the back plate 20 is thenre-inscrted between the housing side'tlanges 23 and beneath theretaining beads 23a.

The prongsfitl of the wall plugportion 31 may be inserted into aconventional electrical wall receptacle, not shown, andif the housing 10is then not in upright position, due to the prong holes in such wallsocket not being in a position corresponding to that of the plug prongs30, the housing 10 may be swung to upright condition by reason of thepivot plug portion 31 mentioned previously herein. Since such pivotedplug structures are well known, it will be unnecessary to illustrate anddescribe the details thereof herein.

With the vaporizer A thus mounted as shown in solid lines in thedrawings, when the switch button 29 is turned to energize the light bulb14, the heat from the latter causes a convection flow of air inwardlythrough the bottom openings 13, upwardly past the tablets B and thelight bulb 14, and thence outwardly through the openings 12 into a roomor other zone in which the vaporizer is mounted.

Radiant heat from the light bulb 14, also heats the tablets B slightly,to stimulate, in accordance with well known principles, thedissemination of vapors and/or aromas therefrom.

In the upright solid line position of the unit A, the light bulb i4 isabove the tablets B, and the air flowing past the tablets is notpreheated by the light bulb. The heating effect on the deodorantcontaining tablets B is, therefore, not as great as when the vaporizer Ais mounted in its inverted position shown in broken lines in Fig. 4,where the air obviouslyis pro-heated before encountering the tablets.

When the evaporation-or exhaustion of the deodorant material of thetablets B has progressed to a point where they are no longer effective,the unit A may be removed by withdrawing the prongs 30 from the walloutlet, not shown, in which they are mounted, and the tablets B eitherreplaced with fresh ones properly charged with not shown, ready for anew period of use.

The invention provides a simple, inexpensive and effective deodorantdisseminator and one which well adapted for use in the home. By makingthe housing 10 of slightly translucent material, the device also'wouldserve as a night light.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred em bodiment of thepresent invention, it will be understood, however, that various changesand modifications may be made in the details thereof without departingfrom the scope of the inventionas set forth in the appended.

'a combined wall plug portion and electric light socket portion in saidhousing and spaced from the side walls thereof, the light socket portionbeing located to position a light bulb when mounted therein, inlongitudinally oftset relation to a tablet mounted in said tabletsupport means, a pair of contactprongs on said wall plug portion andprojecting rearwardly from the housing for inserting in an electricalwall receptacle in either of two reversed positions thereby to supportthe housing in upright condition and with either end thereof uppermost,and conductor means between said prongs and said light socket forenergizing an electric light bulb inserted in said light socket portion,whereby the heat from said light bulb heats said tablets to stimulatevaporization of deodorant therefrom, and simultaneously heats the air inthe housing to create a convection flow of air through the housing, andwhereby when the housing is mounted with a light bulb mounted inuprightposition with the socket lower than a tablet mounted in thetablet'support means the convection flow of air upwardly through thehousing is pre'heated by said bulb before reaching the tablet, whilewhen the housing is relatively inverted, the air is not so pre-heated.

2. A deodorizer for mounting in an electric wall plug receptacle mountedin a vertical wall and having a pair of prongueceiving openings therein,said deodorizer comprising a housing having a plurality of vent openingsin each of the upper and lower ends thereof for the pets sage of acurrent of air through said housing, tablet support means in saidhousing and adjacent a side wall thereof for supporting a pluralityofdeodorant disseminating tablets therein, a wall plug portion, anelectric light socket portionv and a switch portion in said housing andspaced inwardly from the side walls of said housing 'and from the tabletsupport means, the interior of the housing being otherwise unobstructed,a pair of contact prongs on said wall plug portion and projectinglaterally from the rear of said housing for inserting in such electricalwall plug receptacle thereby to support the housing in upright conditionparallel to such vertical wall, .and conductor means from said prongs tosaid light socket portion for energizing an electric light bulbinsertedin said light socket portion, whereby the heat. from-such light bulbheats a tablet in said tablet support means, thereby to stimulatevaporization of deodorant therefrom, and simultaneously heats the air inthe housing to-create a convection flow of air through the housing.

3. A deodorizer for mounting in an electric wall plug receptacle mountedin a vertical wall and having a pair of prong-receiving openingstherein, said deodorizer comprising a housing having a plurality of ventopenings in each of the upper and lower ends thereof for the-passage ofa current of air through said housing, tablet support means in saidhousing and adjacent a sidewall thereor for supporting a plurality ofdeodorant disseminating tablets therein, a wall plug, electriclightsocket and switch in said housing and .spaced inwardly from the sidewalls of said housing and from said tablet support means, a pair ofcontact prongs on said wall plug and projecting laterally from the rearof the housing for inserting in either of two relatively reversedpositions in an electrical wall receptacle, thereby to support thehousing in either of two, relatively inverted conditions, the lightsocket being located in said housing to position a light bulb in saidsocket in laterally inwardly spaced and longitudinally offset relationto a tablet supported in said tablet support means, and conductor meansfrom said prongs through said switch to said light socket for energizingan electric light bulb inserted in said light socket.

4. A deodorizer for mounting in an electric wall plug receptacle mountedin a vertical wall and having a pair of prong-receiving openingstherein, said deodorizer comprising a housing having a plurality of ventopenings in each of the upper and lower ends thereof for the passage ofa current of air through said housing, tablet support means on each sideof said housing for supporting a plurality of deodorant disseminatingtablets therein, a wall plug and electric light socket in said housingand spaced from the side walls of said housing, the light socket beingbetween the tablet support means on opposite sides of the housing, saidsocket being located to position a light bulb screwed therein inlongitudinally ofiset relation to a tablet in said tablet support meansin the direction of air flow through said vent openings, a pair ofcontact prongs on said wall plug and projecting rearwardly from thehousing for inserting in an electrical wall receptacle thereby tosupport the housing in either of two relatively inverted uprightconditions, and conductor means from said prongs to said light socketportion for energizing an electric light bulb inserted in said lightsocket portion, whereby radiant heat from such light bulb heats a tabletin said tablet support means,

thereby to stimulate vaporization of deodorant therefrom, andsimultaneously heats the air in the housing to create a convection flowof air through the housing, the air being pre-heated ahead of a tabletmounted in the tablet support means in one upright condition, and notbeing so pre-heated in the relatively inverted other condition of thehousing.

5. A heated deodorizer comprising a housing having vent openings in eachof the upper and lower ends thereof for the passage of a current of airthrough said housing, tablet support means in said housing and laterallyoffset from the center thereof for supporting a plurality of deodorantdisseminating tablets therein without substantially restricting such aircurrent, an electric light socket in said housing and spaced from theside walls of said housing, said socket being located to position alight bulb therein in longitudinally and laterally offset relation to atablet in said tablet support means, means for supporting the housing ineither of two relatively inverted upright conditions, and conductormeans to said light socket for energizing an electric light bulbtherein, whereby, heat from such light bulb heats a tablet in saidtablet support means, thereby to stimulate vaporization of deodoranttherefrom, and simultaneously heats the air in the housing to create aconvection flow of air through the housing, the air being pre-heatedahead of a tablet mounted in the tablet support means in one uprightcondition, and not being so pre-heated in the relatively inverted othercondition of the housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,513,919 Costello July 4, 1950 2,611,068 Wellens Sept. 16, 19522,714,649 Critzer Aug. 2, 1955 2,733,333 Peters Ian. 31, 1956

